Senior Journalist Debdas Thakur passes away

Senior News Editor of The New Indian Express Debdas Thakur passed away following a massive cardiac arrest around mid-night on Sunday. He was 51.

Thakur had gone home after the day’s work when he complained of acute chest pain. He was rushed to the Capital Hospital where he was pronounced dead. He is survived by wife Sujata and son Sougat.

Born in 1962 in Bhawanipatna, Thakur had a sterling career spanning over two decades with the TNIE. He started as an apprentice Sub Editor with the Vijayanagaram edition of The Express in 1988 before rising through the ranks rapidly. When the paper launched its Odisha edition, Thakur was posted at Bhubaneswar. He was appointed as the News Editor of the edition in 2005 and elevated as the Senior News Editor in 2010.

A man of few words, Thakur commanded tremendous respect from his peers in the journalism circle for his sharp sense of news and impeccable writing. He helmed the News Desk of The New Indian Express, Bhubaneswar with aplomb and those trained under Thakur had only words of respect for the man.

Educated in Government College, Bhawanipatna, the soft-spoken Thakur received his journalism degree from YMCA, New Delhi. He started his career with The Times of India in Rajasthan before moving on to The Sun Times, Bhubaneswar.

A keen follower of music and art, the 51 year old had a passion for environmental issues and felt strongly about issues concerning the KBK region where he belonged to. His untimely demise has left the media circle shocked.

Thakur’s mortal remains were taken to Bhawanipatna where the final rites would be conducted. Condolences have poured in from different quarters over Thakur’s death.